A bill signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb bans higher education institutions from officially pledging non-cooperation with immigration authorities. If one does, the state would be able to file a civil suit and a court could enjoin the institution.

A 2011 Indiana law bars cities and towns from declaring sanctuary status or interfering with immigration authorities’ work to enforce immigration laws. This now extends to the role colleges and universities might take in protecting people who entered the U.S. illegally.

Since the Trump administration prioritized crackdowns on unauthorized immigration, colleges and universities have been in the crosshairs. Across the country and here in Indiana, many students and faculty pushed administrations to declare sanctuary status – including Indiana University, University of Notre Dame and Ball State University. In one instance, protestors interrupted a speech by a top IU official to demand a sanctuary campus.